Arthur McBride – A Ballad of Defiance

“Arthur McBride” tells the story of two young men out for a walk who are stopped by British Army recruiters—and refuse to be bought, bullied, or marched off to fight abroad. The ballad’s bite comes from its plain-spoken anti-recruitment message and its sharp humor, making it a lasting favorite in Irish folk singing as a defiant take on military press-ganging and imperial wars.

Arthur McBride – A Ballad of Defiance Lyrics

I [music] once knew [singing] a fellow
called Arthur McBride. And his pleasure
was a walking down by [music] the
seaside. A walking up talking of you and
the tide. Though [music] the weather was
pleasant and charming,
so happy [music] and gallant. We went on
our [ __ ] We met Sergeant [music]
Harper and Corper Graham and a bunny
little drummer who roused [music] up the
camp with Ezro at Dow [singing] in the
morning.

What [music] home my good fellows? The
sergeant did cry the same [music] to you
sergeant. We made to reply. There was
nothing more said and we made to [music]
pass by. All on that bright summer’s
morning.

One [music] hoe my good fellows if you
would enlist 10 guineies [music]
in gold. I would slap in your fist and
the crown in [music] the bargain to kick
up the dust and to drink the king’s
health in the morning.

Oh no, my [music] good sergeant. We are
not for sale. Though we’re fond of our
country, your bribes [music] won’t
avail. Though we’re fond of our country,
we’d care not to sail, for we are the
boys of the morning.

And if we were stupid and took your
advance, it’s right bloody slender would
be [music] our poor chance. for you
wouldn’t [singing] scruple to send us to
France where we [music] would get shot
without warning

and it’s no [music] good you bragging
[singing] to me of your clothes for
you’ve only [music]
the lend to them as I suppose and you
dare [music] say nothing for you well
nose that you would get flogged [music]
in the morning

if You would insult me [music] without
any word. I swear by my king. I would
draw my broadsword and I’d run through
your body. A strength my afford. Air you
could [music] breathe out the morning.

Oh, he [music] laid the little drummer
as flat as a shoe. He made a [music]
football of his roed out. the sergeant,
the corporal, [music] we knocked out the
two for we were the boys [music] of the
morning.

And as for the weapons that hung by
their side, we [music] flung them as far
as we could in the tide. And the devil
go with you, says Arthur McBride, for
spoiling our [music] walk in the
morning.

Heat.

[music]
[music]